Positioning device for positioning a pushing-out device for pushing out a movably mounted furniture part

ABSTRACT

Positioning device for positioning a pushing-out device for pushing a movably mounted furniture part out of a closed end position relative to a basic furniture structure, having a guide element, which is to be fastened on a substantially horizontally running base of the basic furniture structure, wherein a carrier element of the pushing-out device can be positioned by the guide element, and wherein the guide element has at least one guide which, in the installed position, runs, at least in part, along the depthwise direction of the base and is intended for bearing the carrier element in a displaceable manner.

The invention concerns a positioning device for positioning an ejectiondevice for ejecting a movably mounted furniture part from a closed endposition relative to a furniture carcass, comprising a guide elementwhich is to be fixed to a substantially horizontally extending cabinetfloor of the furniture carcass, and wherein a carrier element of theejection device can be positioned by the guide element.

The invention further concerns an arrangement comprising a positioningdevice of the kind to be described and an article of furniturecomprising such an arrangement.

Devices for positioning ejection devices for ejecting movably mountedfurniture parts from a furniture carcass are already known. When fittingejection devices, in particular in respect of articles of furniture incabinet form, those devices are used with one or more drawers, whereinthe drawers are respectively movable from their closed end positionsrelative to the furniture carcass of the article of furniture into anopen position, by ejection devices associated with the respectivedrawers. That can be effected for example by an ejection element of theejection device, for example an ejection lever, bearing against the rearwall of the drawer in the closed end position thereof and pressingagainst that rear wall upon activation so that the drawer is ejectedfrom the furniture carcass in the opening direction. Precise positioningof the ejection device relative to the drawer is therefore of greatsignificance as the quality of ejection is influenced by the position ofthe ejection device relative to the drawer. If the ejection lever of theejection device is spaced excessively far from the rear wall of thedrawer then the ejection lever cannot deploy its full ejection action.If the ejection lever does not bear centrally against the rear wall ofthe drawer then the drawer can tilt upon being ejected. If the ejectionlever is positioned too near to the rear wall then, in the case of anejection device having a so-called touch-latch functionality, amalfunction can occur as in that way the triggering travel of theejection lever, that is required for recognizing ejection triggering, ispossibly no longer available. It is only by exact positioning of anejection device relative to the drawer that it is possible to ensurethat the aforementioned disadvantages can be avoided and the ejectiondevice can eject the drawer in the proper fashion.

AT 505 970 A1 discloses a carrier structure for at least one ejectiondevice, that carrier structure including a carrier rail and two fixingdevices. In an embodiment in that respect a first fixing device is fixedto the floor of the carcass and a second fixing device is fixed to therear wall of the carcass, wherein adjustment of the depth position ofthe ejection device in relation to the movable furniture part can beeffected by a mounting portion of the second fixing device. In that casea certain degree of adjustment can admittedly occur in the depthwisedirection of the furniture carcass but that is effected only in arelatively small range as the first fixing device is fixed fixedly andimmovably to the carcass floor. Overall the assembly complication andexpenditure for the carrier structure of the ejection devices isrelatively high as firstly the first fixing device has to be fixed tothe furniture carcass floor and then the second fixing device has to befixed to the carcass rear wall. The carrier rail can then be fittedbetween those two fixing devices, in which case adjustment can beeffected in the depthwise direction by the second fixing device. In thatcase, for mounting the carrier rail in accurately fitting relationshipbetween the two fixing devices, an increased level of complication andexpenditure is required in regard to measuring and fixing the two fixingdevices to the furniture carcass.

Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide apositioning device which is improved over the state of the art forpositioning an ejection device for ejecting a movably mounted furniturepart from a closed end position relative to a furniture carcass. Inparticular the invention seeks to provide that positioning is effectedwith the minimum possible amount of measurement and assemblycomplication.

According to the invention that object is attained by the features ofclaim 1. Advantageous configurations of the invention are recited in theappendant claims.

According to the invention therefore it is provided that the guideelement has at least one guide which in the mounted condition extends atleast portion-wise in the depthwise direction of the cabinet floor fordisplaceably mounting the carrier element. Preferably in that case theguide can be disposed in the mounted condition on the cabinet floor.

The ejection device can be arranged for example on a carrier element,for example on an angle mounting bracket. To be able to eject a drawerfrom a furniture carcass in the appropriate fashion the ejection devicemust be arranged in a suitable position relative to the drawer in itsclosed end position. That is achieved with the proposed positioningdevice in that firstly the guide element is mounted to the cabinet floorof the furniture carcass. The guide element has a—preferablylinear—guide which in the mounted condition extends at leastportion-wise in the depthwise direction of the cabinet floor (that is tosay in the direction of movement of the drawer), in which case thecarrier element is mounted displaceably along that guide. Preferably inthat case the carrier element can rest continuously on the cabinet floorduring the displaceable mounting. In that way it is possible for theejection device arranged on the carrier element to be positioned fordrawers involving different nominal lengths. For example the guide ofthe carrier element can extend over at least half of the depthwiseextent of the cabinet floor. It will be appreciated that it is alsopossible to arrange a plurality of ejection devices on the carrierelement so that in that way even drawers with a large loading capacitycan be reliably ejected.

The carrier element can be fixed after positioning has been effectedrelative to the guide element to the guide element and/or to the cabinetfloor by a fixing device. In that case the fixing device can be forexample a screw connection, by which the carrier element can be screwedonto the cabinet floor and/or can be screwed to the guide element. Itcan however also be provided that, after fixing of the carrier elementto the cabinet floor, the guide element can be removed again. Thatprovides that the guide element could be used afresh for positioning afurther ejection device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that theguide element has a longitudinal portion and at least one transverseportion projecting substantially at a right angle from the longitudinalportion, the longitudinal portion having the guide for guiding thecarrier element. In that respect it can be provided that the carrierelement has at least one groove for displaceable mounting relative tothe guide element. Such a groove can be for example of such aconfiguration that in operative relationship with the guide of the guideelement, it forms a linear sliding guide, for example a dovetail guide.

The guide element can have an abutment by which the guide element can bepositioned relative to an edge of the cabinet floor. In that case theabutment can be used to orient the guide element flush with the rearedge of the cabinet floor. In the case of a furniture carcass with arear wall in contrast the abutment facilitates fitting the guide elementinto that edge of the cabinet floor, from which the rear wall mounted tothe cabinet floor extends projecting substantially at a right angle inthe vertical direction from the cabinet floor. When positioning theejection device firstly the guide element is inserted with the abutmentwhich can extend along the transverse portion of the guide element, intothe angle defined by the cabinet floor and the rear wall of thefurniture carcass. If the furniture carcass does not have a rear wallthen the guide element is fixed flush with respect to the rear edge ofthe cabinet floor. Preferably in that case the abutment of the guideelement can be formed by a portion which projects substantially at aright angle from the transverse portion of the guide element and whichin the mounted position extends perpendicularly downwardly and by whichthe guide element can be abutted flush against the edge of the cabinetfloor.

It can also be provided that the guide element has at least one openingthrough which a marking on the cabinet floor is visible. That permitspre-positioning of the guide element, in particular in the transversedirection of the cabinet floor. That opening can be for example in theform of an orifice through which the marking is visible. As a result theproposed positioning device contributes to very substantiallyeliminating possible sources of error when fitting ejection devices.

In that respect a typical operation for positioning an ejection devicetakes place in a plurality of steps. Firstly in a first step the widthof the cabinet floor is ascertained and a marking is made on the cabinetfloor at approximately half the width in the region of the angle betweenthe cabinet floor and the rear wall of the furniture carcass or, ifthere is no rear wall, in the region of the rear edge of the cabinetfloor. The guide element is then fitted with its abutment against theangle between the cabinet floor and the carcass rear wall or, if thereis no rear wall, flush to the rear edge of the cabinet floor. In thatcase a portion which in the mounted position projects downwardlysubstantially at a right angle from the transverse portion of the guideelement can facilitate positioning of the guide element at the rear edgeof the cabinet floor. The guide element now bears flush against the rearwall of the furniture carcass or at the rear edge of the cabinet floor,in which case the guide of the guide element extends at leastportion-wise in the depthwise direction of the cabinet floor. The guideelement can now be moved along the edge into that position in which themarking on the cabinet floor is visible through the opening in the guideelement. The guide element is to be fixed at that position, for exampleby a double-sided adhesive strip which is disposed at the underside ofthe guide element.

In a next step the carrier element to which the ejection device isfitted is fitted onto the front end of the guide of the guide element bymeans of a groove or opening provided for that purpose. Subsequently thedrawer is pushed in, in the direction of its closed end position. Inthat case the ejection device mounted to the carrier element is pushedin by the rear wall of the drawer along the guide.

It is particularly advantageous in that respect if there is provided aspacer by which a predetermined relative spacing between the movablefurniture part and the ejection device can be fixed. The spacer providesthat, after positioning of the ejection device and removal of thespacer, this ensures a suitable triggering stroke movement for theejection element of the ejection device.

By virtue of the proposed positioning device an ejection device canalways be fitted and mounted at a respectively appropriate positionrelative to the rear wall of the drawer associated with an ejectiondevice, in particular in regard to different nominal lengths of thedrawers, so that the required triggering travel for activation of thetouch-latch function is ensured.

It can preferably be provided that the spacer is mounted to the ejectiondevice in such a way that the ejection element, for example an ejectionlever, can be arrested by the positioning of the spacer on the ejectiondevice and thus the spacer also offers protection from unintentionaltriggering of the ejection device during the positioning and fittingoperation. The spacer in that case can be arranged for example in asuitable opening in the ejection device.

After the drawer has been pushed into its closed end position relativeto the furniture carcass and the carrier element has been displacedalong the guide of the guide element in the depthwise direction thedrawer is pulled out of the furniture carcass again in a further step.The ejection device or the carrier element to which the ejection deviceis fitted was correctly positioned by being mounted on the guide of theguide element and by the drawer being pushed into its closed endposition and as a further consequence can be fixed to the cabinet floorby means of a fixing device. That can be effected for example by a screwconnection.

Overall the proposed positioning device makes it possible for ejectiondevices for movable furniture parts, in particular drawers, of a widerange of different nominal lengths and independently of the guide systemused, to be very easily positioned so that they can implement theejection process in the desired fashion. In that respect positioning isalso possible independently of the material of the movable furniturepart, in particular independently of the material of the rear wall of adrawer like for example wood or steel. In addition a positioning deviceaccording to the invention makes it possible to position ejectiondevices in connection with a large variety of furniture carcassesindependently of the structures thereof and in particular independentlyof whether there is a rear wall in a furniture carcass or not.

It is also possible to provide a cover means for the ejection device,which can be releasably fixed to the carrier element. That cover meansis disposed over the ejection device in the mounted position andprotects the ejection device from water drips. That is desirable inparticular when the ejection device is disposed for example in afurniture carcass beneath a washbasin.

Protection is also claimed for an arrangement comprising a positioningdevice according to the invention and an ejection device. The ejectiondevice can have at least one electric drive, by which an ejectionelement of the ejection device can be acted upon for the ejection of amovably mounted furniture part from a closed end position relative to afurniture carcass. It will be appreciated however that it is alsopossible to provide a different kind of drive, for example a springdrive, for acting on the ejection element of the ejection device.

Protection is also claimed for an article of furniture comprising anarrangement of the above-described kind.

Protection is also claimed for a method as set forth in claim 11.

Further details and advantages of the present invention are describedmore fully hereinafter by means of the specific description withreference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 1A show a perspective view of a furniture carcass,

FIGS. 2 and 2A show a guide element placed on the cabinet floor,

FIGS. 3 and 3A show a carrier element fitted onto the guide of the guideelement, with an ejection device,

FIGS. 4 and 4A show a drawer which is pushed into the furniture carcassand which is intended for positioning the ejection device,

FIGS. 5 and 5A show the drawer of FIGS. 4 and 4A in its closed endposition,

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement as shown in FIG. 5 with the drawer removed,

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the positioningdevice with guide element, fitted carrier element with ejection devicemounted thereon,

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the positioningdevice, and

FIG. 9 shows an ejection device with electric drive.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a furniture carcass 4 which has acabinet floor 6, two side walls laterally mounted thereto and a rearwall. For example a displaceably mounted furniture part 3 in the form ofa drawer 3 (not shown here) can be pushed into that furniture carcass 4and out again in the depthwise direction T along drawer extension guides19 arranged on the furniture carcass 4. Provided for ejection of themovably mounted furniture part 3 is an ejection device 2 (not shown)which is to be positioned that, after activation, the ejection device 2moves the movably mounted furniture part 3 from a closed end positionrelative to the furniture carcass 4 into an open position. For thatpurpose firstly approximately the center of the cabinet floor 6 isascertained in the transverse direction and a marking M is put on thecabinet floor 6 in the region of the rear end thereof. That can beclearly seen from FIG. 1A showing an enlarged portion of the region A inFIG. 1. Here the marking M extends forwardly in the depthwise directionT from the angle 13 formed by the cabinet floor 6 and the rear wall ofthe furniture carcass 4, that is arranged substantially at a right anglethereto.

FIG. 2 shows the furniture carcass 4 of FIG. 1 with a guide element 5arranged on the cabinet floor 6 while FIG. 2A shows a detail portion onan enlarged scale. The guide element 5 is preferably of a T-shapedconfiguration and has a longitudinal portion 9 and at least onetransverse portion 10 projecting substantially at a right angle fromthat longitudinal portion 9. In this case the longitudinal portion 9represents a guide 8 for a carrier element 7, which can be mounteddisplaceably thereon in the depthwise direction T, of an ejection device2 (see FIG. 3). The transverse portion 10 of the guide element 5 has anabutment 12 by which the guide element 5 can be applied flush to theangle 13 between the cabinet floor 6 and the rear wall of the furniturecarcass 4. If the furniture carcass 4 does not have a rear wall thenthat abutment 12 of the guide element 5 can have a perpendicular portionwhich projects substantially at a right angle from the transverseportion 10 and by which the guide element 5 can be butted flush againstthe rear edge of the cabinet floor 6. In addition the transverse portion10 has an opening 14 by which the guide element 5 can be positioned inrelation to the marking M. As can be seen in the enlarged view of theregion A in FIG. 2 (FIG. 2A) the guide element 5 is positioned flush atthe edge 13 of the cabinet floor 6 so that the marking M on the cabinetfloor 6 is visible through the opening 14 in the guide element 5.

FIG. 3 shows the furniture carcass 4 with the pre-positioned guideelement 5 as shown in FIG. 2, wherein a carrier element 7 is arrangeddisplaceably on the end, that is at the front in the depthwise directionT, of the guide 8 (see FIG. 2) of the guide element 5. In this examplethe carrier element 7 is of an angular configuration, wherein thehorizontal portion of the angle has a corresponding opening or groove 11by which the carrier element 7 is mounted displaceably along the guide 8of the guide element 5. As the guide 8 of the guide element 5 extends inthe depthwise direction T of the furniture carcass 4 the ejection device2 can be displaced in the depthwise direction T by the carrier element 7on which the ejection device 2 is mounted. The ejection device 2 has anejection element 18 in the form of an ejection lever by which themovably mounted furniture part 3 (not shown here) can be ejected. Inaddition there is shown a cover means 16 which can be fixed to the topside of the carrier element 7, for example by means of a snap-actionconnection. That cover means 16 prevents the ingress of dirt anddripping water.

FIG. 3A shows a detail view on an enlarged scale of FIG. 3. Arranged atthe ejection device 2 is a spacer 15 by which it is possible toestablish a predetermined relative spacing between the movably mountedfurniture part 3 and the ejection device 2. That is important inparticular when the ejection device 2 is equipped with a so-calledtouch-latch functionality. The spacer 15 can ensure that, afterpositioning of the ejection device 2 and after removal of the spacer 15,this provides a defined triggering travel.

FIG. 4 shows a drawer 3 which is movable by way of drawer extensionguides 19 in the depthwise direction T into the furniture carcass 4 andFIG. 4A shows an enlarged view of the region A in FIG. 4. To positionthe ejection device 2 the drawer 3 is pushed into the furniture carcass4 in the depthwise direction T until the drawer 3 is in its closed endposition (FIG. 5). During insertion of the drawer 3 into the furniturecarcass 4 the rear wall of the drawer 3 meets the spacer 15. After theclosed end position of the drawer 3 is reached the ejection device 2 isin a correct position with respect to the rear wall of the drawer 3 sothat, after fixing to the furniture carcass 4 and after removal of thespacer 15, the ejection device 2 is positioned at the correctappropriate position. Fixing of the ejection device 2 relative to thefurniture carcass 4 can be effected in that case by a fixing device, forexample a screw connection.

FIGS. 5 and 5A show the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 4A, wherein thedrawer 3 has been pushed into the furniture carcass 4 to the closed endposition. In order to provide a defined pressing-in travel even in theclosed end position of the drawer 3, in regard to a touch-latchfunctionality of the ejection device 2, suitable spring buffers whichare known in the state of the art can be provided. They can be arrangedfor example at the inside of the front panel of the drawer 3 or at theside walls of the furniture carcass 4. The ejection device 2 is nowproperly positioned and can be fixed in the correct position relative tothe rear wall of the drawer 3 by fixing of the carrier element 7 to thecabinet floor 6 of the furniture carcass 4. After removal of the spacer15 from the ejection device 2 this also ensures that the triggeringtravel required for the touch-latch functionality of the ejection device2 is available for the ejection element 18. Starting from the closed endposition of the drawer 3 it can now be moved for example by manuallyapplying pressure to the front panel in the closing direction of thedrawer 3 into a second end position—which is further into the furniturecarcass 4—, whereupon the drawer 3 is movable into an open positionstarting from the second end position by the ejection device 2.

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the drawer 3 hasbeen removed after reaching its closed end position (FIG. 5) for reasonsof clarity of the drawing. The ejection device 2 was positioned in thecorrect position in relation to the rear wall of the drawer 3 by pushingthe drawer 3 in the depthwise direction T into its closed end position.The carrier element 7 can now be fixed to the cabinet floor 6 in thatposition. After removal of the spacer 15 from the ejection device 2,this ensures that the triggering travel required for the touch-latchfunction of the ejection device 2 is available for the ejection element18 when the drawer 3 is in its closed end position.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the carrier element 7 which ispositioned on the guide element 5. The carrier element 7 is of anangular configuration with a portion which is horizontal in the mountedposition and a vertical portion which projects substantially at a rightangle therefrom and on which at least one ejection device 2 is mounted.The horizontal portion of the carrier element 7 has a groove 11 by whichthe carrier element 7 is mounted displaceably along the guide 8 of theguide element 5. In this example the ejection device 2 includes anelectric drive 17 by which the ejection element 18 can be actuated.Provided at the ejection device 2 is a spacer 15 which, duringpositioning of the ejection device 2, provides for a defined relativespacing between the ejection device 2 and the rear wall of the movablefurniture part 3 (not shown here) so that, after removal of the spacer15, this gives a suitable triggering travel for the ejection element 18.In addition the releasable spacer 15 also serves as a triggeringprotection during the operation of positioning the ejection device 2 sothat unintentional ejection movement of the ejection element 18 cannotoccur.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective exploded view of the positioning device 1 ofFIG. 7. An ejection device 2 is mounted to the angular carrier element7. The horizontal portion of the carrier element 7 has a groove 11, bywhich the carrier element 7 is mounted displaceably along the guide 8 ofthe guide element 5. In this embodiment the transverse portion 10 of theguide element 5 has an opening 14 in the form of an orifice or a holethrough which a marking M on a cabinet floor 6 can be visible (see alsoFIG. 2A). In addition there is shown a cover means 16 which can be fixedto the top side of the carrier element 7, for example by means of asnap-action connection. That cover means 16 prevents the ingress of dirtand dripping water.

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the ejectionelement 18 of the ejection device 2 is actuable by an electric drive 17(not visible here). The Figure shows a suitable power supply unit forsupplying power, which provides electric energy from a plug socket forthe electric drive 17 of the ejection device 2. In that case cables canbe guided in suitable openings in the carrier element 7. In thisarrangement the spacer 15 also serves as a triggering protection duringthe operation of positioning the ejection device 2 so that unintentionalejection movement of the ejection element 18 cannot occur.

The invention is not limited just to the illustrated embodiments butembraces or extends to all variants and technical equivalents which canfall within the scope of the appended claims. The positional referencesadopted in the description such as for example front, rear, lower and soforth are also related to the directly described and illustrated Figureand are to be appropriately transferred to the new position upon achange in position.

1. An ejection device for ejecting a movably mounted furniture part froma closed end position relative to a furniture carcass, comprising apositioning device for positioning the ejection device, wherein theejection device can be positioned on a carrier element and comprises ahousing, an ejection element pivotably movable relative to the housingand a drive for acting upon the ejection element, wherein thepositioning device comprises a guide element which is to be fixed to asubstantially horizontally extending cabinet floor of the furniturecarcass, wherein the carrier element of the ejection device can bepositioned by the guide element, characterized in that the guide elementhas at least one guide which in the mounted condition extends at leastportion-wise in the depthwise direction of the cabinet floor fordisplaceably mounting the carrier element.
 2. An ejection device as setforth in claim 1, characterized in that the carrier element is to befixed after positioning has been effected relative to the guide elementto the guide element and/or to the cabinet floor by a fixing device. 3.An ejection device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that theguide element has a longitudinal portion and at least one transverseportion projecting substantially at a right angle from the longitudinalportion, the longitudinal portion having the guide.
 4. An ejectiondevice as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the carrierelement for displaceable mounting relative to the guide element has atleast one groove.
 5. An ejection device as set forth in claim 1,characterized in that the guide element has an abutment by which theguide element can be positioned relative to an edge of the cabinetfloor.
 6. An ejection device as set forth in claim 1, characterized inthat the guide element has at least one opening through which a markingon the cabinet floor is visible.
 7. An ejection device as set forth inclaim 1, characterized in that there is provided a spacer by which apredetermined relative spacing between the movable furniture part andthe ejection device can be fixed.
 8. An ejection device as set forth inclaim 1, characterized in that there is provided a cover means for theejection device, which can be releasably fixed to the carrier element.9. An ejection device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that theejection device has at least one electric drive by way of which anejection element of the ejection device can be acted upon for theejection of a movably mounted furniture part out of a closed endposition relative to a furniture carcass.
 10. An article of furniturecomprising an ejection device as set forth in claim
 1. 11. A method ofpositioning an ejection device for ejecting a movably mounted furniturepart out of a closed end position relative to a furniture carcass with apositioning device, in particular as set forth in claim 1, whichincludes the following steps: a) positioning and fixing a guide elementto the cabinet floor of the furniture carcass, b) mounting a carrierelement on an end which is at the front in the depthwise direction ofthe cabinet floor of at least one guide extending portion-wise in thedepthwise direction of the guide element, wherein the ejection device isarranged on the carrier element and a spacer is mounted to the ejectiondevice, c) pushing the movably mounted furniture part in the depthwisedirection into the furniture carcass as far as the closed end positionof the movably mounted furniture part, d) fixing the carrier element tothe furniture carcass, preferably to the cabinet floor of the furniturecarcass, and e) removing the spacer from the ejection device.